Ethiopian PM Inaugurates the 3.8 billion birr Rib Irrigational Dam Project today

Addis Ababa  October 28/2018 Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed officially inaugurated the 3.8 billion birr Rib Irrigational Dam Project today.

Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, President of Amhara Regional State Gedu Andargachew and other federal and regional senior official have presided over the inauguration of the dam.

Rib Irrigation Dam Project, located in South Gondar Zone of Amhara Regional State, has the capacity to contain 234 million cubic meters of water.

The Dam said to have 800 meters of length and 99.5 meters of height is expected to develop over 20, 000 hectare of land and make 40, 000 farmers’ beneficiaries.

Moreover, the Dam is believed to protect Lake Tana from alluvial deposits, especially soils formed in the river valleys.

The project which started with 1.3 billion birr in 2008 has a six year overdue irrespective of the initial plan included finalizing and delivering within four years of time.

Construction of the project was started some 10 years before by Ethiopian Construction Works Corporation, it has undertaken four times cost amendment to reach the initial rate.

Speaking on the inaugural ceremony, Prime Minister Abiy said that the government will work to improve livelihood of people through moving forward irrigational scheme and by promoting technological mechanisms of framing in the country.

“Share of irrigation farming in the agriculture is 10 percent, which only accounts four percent of the overall GDP share,” he said adding that “the government set to take irrigational scheme as its core development agenda.”

He noted that the newly established Irrigation Commission will invigorate wide range of activities to change the livelihood of people through developing the sector.

Abiy Added the government will provide modern techniques of agriculture and professional support to the farmers to enhance agricultural productivity across the country.

SOURCE: ENA